Student Paper English 110 Comparison/Contrast November 15, 2008

Is Ketchup A Vegetable?
According to the Center for Disease Control, the amount of overweight children in this country has reached epidemic proportions. Over the past three decades, society has changed so much that our childrens health is in danger. Today, twenty percent of children ages 6-11 are considered overweight. Thirty years ago, it was only four percent. Obese children are already starting to develop life threatening diseases, such as heart disease and diabetes. Health experts warn that the current generation may be the first in American history to have a shorter life expectancy than their parents. There are three main factors that have contributed to this phenomenon: mealtimes, television time and physical education. First, in the 1970s, children spent the majority of their meals at home eating healthy food prepared by mom. Today, with both parents having to work to make ends meet and dealing with their childrens busy schedules, meals at home are the first thing to go. This means that the fast food industrys high-fat, high-calorie, super-sized portions have become a way of life for todays children. Thirty years ago, children were drinking three cups of milk for every one cup of soda. Today, that ratio is reversed. The easy accessibility of junk food and soda in school vending machines has also contributed to the problem.

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Second, the amount of time todays children spend in front of a television or computer is about 3 hours a day. This is triple the amount of time children spent in front of the television three decades ago. Lets not forget that in this added television time, food and beverage manufacturers are bombarding our children with marketing that encourages unhealthy eating. In the past, children basically just had Saturday morning cartoons to look forward to. Today, children have several television channels that are programmed just for them and added to that, these stations broadcast shows twenty-four hours a day. Also, todays working and singleparent families simply arent at home as much to monitor how much time is being spent watching television. Finally, children used have gym every day of the week. The amount of physical education being offered in schools is currently being decreased dramatically. In an attempt to meet the requirements of the No Child Left Behind bill, funding for physical education is being cut. Today, eighty percent of elementary schools offer gym only 1-2 days a week. There is some good news, though. The American Medical Association has published a study that showed for the first time in decades, the increase in childhood obesity has leveled off and feel if things continue, this epidemic can be brought under control. Parents are helping fight the battle by learning to make quick healthy meals and setting an example with their own food and exercise choices. The government has become involved by launching national health campaigns with famous spokespeople, like Miley Cyrus. Schools are helping by replacing their soda machines with milk machines. And the fast-food industry is helping by providing healthier

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options on their menus, like apple slices and raisins. By working together, this epidemic can be reversed so our children can live long, healthy lives.

Works Cited:
Bureau of Labor Statistics: http://www.bls.gov/search/?cx=011405714443654768953%3Aoetfsd6qb3w&cof=FORI D%3A11&ie=UTF8&prefix=&query=working+parents&submit.x=34&submit.y=10&sa=Search#1 070 National Center for Education Statistics: http://nces.ed.gov/pubs2006/nutrition/02F.asp Time Magazine: http://www.time.com/time/health/article/0,8599,102443,00.html National Institute of Health: http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/001999.htm

Good Writer, Thank you for writing this wonderful essay! Ive read so many rough or undeveloped essay this evening, so reading this one was a real treat. Wasnt it Ronald Regan who introduced the idea of ketchup as a vegetable to balance the nutrition charts for public schools? Avis

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